Environment Conservation
NGT forms Central Monitoring Committee to check river pollution
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about NGT directions) + Mains ( GS III environment conservation)

What's the NEWS

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a Central Monitoring Committee to prepare and enforce a national plan to make over 350 river stretches across the country pollution free.

Know! about the committee

• The committee would comprise a representative of NITI Aayog, secretaries of Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Environment, the director general of National Mission for Clean Ganga and the Chairman of the Central Pollution Control Board.

• The Chairman of CPCB will be the nodal authority for coordination.

What's the Objective
• The committee has been composed to monitor pollution of rivers, as it has caused serious threat to the safety of water and environment.

Know! the key Highlights

• Besides checking river pollution, the central monitoring committee will coordinate with the River Rejuvenation Committees of the states and oversee the execution of the action plans, taking into account the timelines, budgetary mechanism and other factors.

• The chief secretaries of the states will act as the nodal agency at the state level.

• The green tribunal also directed the Ministry of Environment to consider a policy for giving environmental awards to outstanding persons (natural and juristic) and institutions or states and introducing "dis-incentives" for non-compliant states. The tribunal has given the Ministry time till June 30 to frame such a scheme.

• As per the tribunal, the Central Monitoring Committee may consider identifying experts, best practices and models for use of treated water, including plan to supply untreated sewage for a price or otherwise so that the concerned needy party can treat and utilise such water.

• The first meeting of the Central Monitoring Committee may be held by June 30. The NGT has directed the panel to submit its report by July 31.

International Affairs
State of World Population Report-2019: UNFPA
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the findings)

What's the NEWS

• The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has recently launched its annual flagship report State of World Population-2019. Report titled "Unfinished business the pursuit of rights and choices" describe issues and information about population worldwide.

Know! more about the report findings

• UNFPA report says despite global gains in securing sexual and reproductive rights over the past 50 years, many population groups are still left behind.

• Activists, advocates, public health specialists and many others have pushed relentlessly for the transformations we see around us today, but much remains to be done.

Know! about Indian specific findings
• According to a report by the United Nations Population Fund, India's population grew at an average annual rate of 1.2 per cent between 2010 and 2019 to 1.36 billion, more than double the annual growth rate of China.

• In comparison, China's population stood at 1.42 billion in 2019, growing from 1.23 billion in 1994 and 803.6 million in 1969. China's population grew at an average annual rate of 0.5 per cent between 2010 and 2019.

• In India, total fertility rate per woman was 5.6 in 1969, dropping to 3.7 in 1994 and 2.3 in 2019.

• The life expectancy at birth in 1969 was 47 years, growing to 60 years in 1994 and 69 years in 2019.

• The report said 27 per cent of the country's population was in the age bracket of 0-14 years and 10-24 years each, while 67 per cent of the country's population was in the 15-64 age bracket. However, six per cent of the country's population is of the age 65 and above.

Know! about the Global Findings

• Report says that the world's population in 1969 was growing at about 2 per cent a year. At that rate, it would almost double within the next 25 years.

• About 35 million women, girls and young people will need life-saving sexual and reproductive health services this year, as well as services to address gender-based violence, in humanitarian settings.

• Every day, more than 500 women and girls including in countries with emergency settings, die during pregnancy and childbirth, due to the absence of skilled birth attendants or emergency obstetric procedures.

• Education enhances women's understanding of their place in society, provides them with the skills and information to exercise their voice in relationships, and enables them to negotiate for their own interests.

• Every day, more than 500 women and girls including in countries with emergency settings, die during pregnancy.

• Highlighting positive changes in the last half-century, the report shows that in 1969, the average number of births per woman was 4.8, compared with 2.9 in 1994, and 2.5 today.

World's biggest aircraft successfully takes flight

Relevance IN - Prelims( about the flight)

What's the NEWS

• World's largest airplane took off for the very first time.

• Stratolaunch has built this aircraft in eight years. After its successful test flight, company hopes to use the twin-fuselage, six-engine, catamaran-style aircraft to launch satellite-bearing rockets into space by 2022.

• This test flight was done at Mojave Desert, California. Stratolaunch was founded in 2011 by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.

• Its first flight duration was 2.5 hours at up to 17,000 ft or 5,200 meter above the sea level. As part of the initial flight, the pilots evaluated aircraft performance and handling qualities before landing successfully back at the Mojave Air and Space Port.

Know! more about the Stratolaunch aircraft

• The Stratolaunch aircraft is a mobile launch platform that will enable airline-style access to space that is convenient, affordable and routine.

• The reinforced centre wing can support multiple launch vehicles, weighing up to a total of 500,000 pounds.

• The plane weighs about 227,000 kg and has the biggest wingspan ever built, measuring 118 meter from one end to the other.


Bilateral relations
Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF)
India to be Guest of Honour at ADIBF 2019
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the book fair )

What's the NEWS

• India will be the Guest of Honour country at the 2019 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) to be held during April 24-30, 2019.

Know! more about the fair

• The fair aims to highlight the UAE's rich heritage, and showcase its authenticity, cultural and literary output. This will be the 29th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair

• Through India's participation in the fair, the UAE expects to witness significant increase in the number of visitors in various events and activities that will be held throughout the entire duration of ADIBF. A number of activities in the fields of literature, culture, and art are expected to engage the audience.

Prelims Practise Questions

Consider the following statements

1. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has recently launched its annual flagship report State of World Population-2018 titled "Unfinished business the pursuit of rights and choices" describe issues and information about population worldwide.

2. According to a report by the United Nations Population Fund, India's population grew at an average annual rate of 1.2 per cent between 2010 and 2019 to 1.36 billion, more than double the annual growth rate of China.

3. In India, total fertility rate per woman was 5.6 in 1969, dropping to 3.7 in 1994 and 2.3 in 2019.

4. The life expectancy at birth in 1969 was 47 years, growing to 60 years in 1994 and 69 years in 2019.

5. The report said 27 per cent of the country's population was in the age bracket of 0-14 years and 10-24 years each, while 67 per cent of the country's population was in the 15-64 age bracket.

Find the correct statement from the option given below

a. 2 3 4 and 5
b. 3 4 and 5
c. 1 4 and 5
d. All

Consider the following statements

1. NITI Aayog has formed a Central Monitoring Committee to prepare and enforce a national plan to make over 350 river stretches across the country pollution free.

2. The committee would comprise a representative of NITI Aayog, secretaries of Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Environment, the director general of National Mission for Clean Ganga and the Chairman of the Central Pollution Control Board.

Find the correct statement from the option given below
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both
d. None

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